Historium hosts historical event of local significance

Weather permitting, Cow-boy Rick Hamby of Caulfield will bring his “Journey Stage” along for his presentation at the Ozark County Historium at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 13.

By Janet Taber, Special to the Times

At 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, Cowboy Rick Hamby of Caulfield will visit the Historium, and, weather permitting, he plans to bring along his famous “Journey Stagecoach,” which he and his crew have driven on several westward journeys in recent years.

Hamby, who presents a radio program entitled Great Moments in American History on KUKU, 100.3 FM in Willow Springs, will discuss the origin of the antique coach and its amazing history, including its years as the first “ride” at Silver Dollar City in the 1960s.

“I am excited to come to Gainesville and tell the coach’s story [because] there is a small but unique connection to Gainesville,” Hamby said with a grin. “You’ll have to come to the program to hear about it!”

Hamby, a natural story-teller who seems to find interesting bits of history everywhere he goes, will bring copies of his new book, The Last Stage to Matador, which he wrote with his wife, Arkansas Bev Hamby. The large coffee-table book is filled with beautiful color photos taken by award-winning photographer Dennis Crider of West Plains, a crew member on the stagecoach journeys. Crider recorded the beauty of the western landscape as well as people they met along the way.

The Hambys and Crider will share tales from the book and sign copies they sell. Hamby is currently researching coach routes that once ran through parts of the Ozarks, including Ozark County, and is considering the possibility of making a journey based on one of these historic routes.

This Historium event is free and open to everyone. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.

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